ਮੇਰਾ ਦੋਸਤ
mera dost
The English phrase 'my friend' is translated into Punjabi as ਮੇਰਾ ਦੋਸਤ (mera dost).
The phrase is used to refer to a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection. While dost is a common way to say 'friend', you may also encounter the word saathi to mean 'friend'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ਮੇਰਾ, which means 'my' and ਦੋਸਤ, which means 'friend'.
Which one should you use?
ਮੇਰਾ ਦੋਸਤ is the standard way to say 'my friend', but in very informal or slang contexts, people might use ਮੇਰਾ ਯਾਰ.
How does it change in a sentence?
The possessive pronoun and the noun must change gender to match a female friend. For example, ਮੇਰਾ ਦੋਸਤ becomes ਮੇਰੀ ਦੋਸਤ when referring to a female.
How do you pronounce it?
mera dost
Did you know?
- The word ਮੇਰਾ has distant linguistic relatives in even more unexpected places, such as the Romani language used by many people in Europe. This links Punjabi back to a very broad historical network of Indo-Aryan languages.
- In Punjabi culture, calling someone ਯਾਰ in a professional or formal setting can be seen as overly presumptive or disrespectful.
- While ਦੋਸਤ implies affection, the alternative word ਸਾਥੀ (saathi) emphasizes companionship and the act of walking or traveling together. It describes a person who is a partner in a shared journey or task.
Examples in context
- ਮੇਰਾ ਯਾਰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿਖਦਾ ਹੈ।My friend is learning Punjabi.
- ਉਹ ਮੇਰਾ ਦੋਸਤ ਹੈ।oh mera dost hai.He is my friend.
- ਮੇਰਾ ਦੋਸਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਮਿਹਨਤੀ ਹੈ।mera dost bahut mehanti hai.My friend is very hardworking.
- ਮੇਰਾ ਦੋਸਤ ਅੱਜ ਆਵੇਗਾ।mera dost ajj avega.My friend will come today.
Example conversation
Kiran is introducing her friend to Ravinder.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਰਵਿੰਦਰ, ਮੇਰਾ ਦੋਸਤ ਮਿਲੋ।Ravinder, mera dost milo.Ravinder, meet my friend.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ! ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਕੀ ਨਾਮ ਹੈ?Sat Shri Akaal! Tuhada ki naam hai?Hello! What is your name?
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਚੰਗਾ ਗਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ।Oh bahut changa gaunda hai.He sings very well.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਇਹ ਤਾਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਗੱਲ ਹੈ।Eh taan bahut vadhia gall hai.That is a very great thing.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਦੋਸਤ, ਮੇਰਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
